An australian broad-band satellite for X-ray astronomy.

The design and performance of a broad-bandwidth (2-190 keV) satellite with high sensitivity for X-ray astronomy are analyzed. The spacecraft is designed for a 40-hour Shuttle mission, is three-axis stabilized, and has on-board power supplies. The payload of the satellite consists of two high energy detectors (energy range 10-190 keV), a medium energy detector (energy range 1.5-20 keV), and passive collimators. The sensitivity of the detectors is evaluated and compared with the detectors of the HEAO-1 satellite; it is observed that the sensitivity of the broad-band satellite is greater than that of HEAO-1. The satellite will provide data for a wide energy range with high sensitivity and energy resolution in the region above 30 keV and is applicable for the proposed study of white dwarf systems, neutron star system, black holes, active galactic nuclei, clusters of galaxies, X-ray bursters, supernova remnants, and cosmic X-ray background.